BUCHANAN — Gavin Price, an eight-year-old student at Buchanan Elementary School, had one wish– to make things better for area youth by sacrificing his birthday presents. “I’m fortunate and have everything I need, so I wanted to help those less fortunate,” said Gavin, the son of Bill and Cindy Price.
Well, Gavin’s wish has come true. His hard work and self-sacrifice is impacting students not only at Buchanan Elementary School, but across Botetourt County.
Gavin’s wish has resulted in he and his family collecting nearly 2,000 jars of peanut butter over the last two years: 500 jars last year, and a jaw-dropping, 1,400 jars this year. Gavin’s wish involved his entire family including his brother, Keegan, and his parents.
Gavin’s birthday wish caught the attention of hundreds of people across the country as donated jars of peanut butter poured in through the mail, some as far away as Colorado.
Buchanan’s Community Development Planner Harry Gleason asked, “who could had ever have imagined when Gavin chose to partner with the town’s annual Buchanan Elementary School Backpack Buddy Peanut Butter Drive that he would collect enough peanut butter to supply the program for the entire year?” The community donated over 500 jars of additional peanut butter, he added.
By collecting that much peanut butter Buchanan reached its goal of collecting 500 jars help Mill Creek Baptist Church’s Backpack Buddy Program which provides food for needy students to take home over the weekend and extended holidays. The effort over the past two years, said Mill Creek representatives Curtis and Jeanette Tatum, “has helped supply the program for the entire year enabling the group to expand their services to provide food over the summer months also.”
Gleason said, “Three cheers for Gavin Price and his big heart!”
The town is now accepting donations of cans of chicken noodle soup to donate to the Backpack Buddy Program to further help area youth in need. Donations may be dropped off at the Buchanan Town Hall. For additional information, call 254-1212.
